Tue, 07/08/2025 - 16:08

Moon Landing back on best surface after turf flop

By Ron Gierkink
Moon Landing trains at WO Aug 17 2023
Michael Burns
Moon Landing has won five races on synthetic tracks but is yet to hit the board in five turf starts.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moon Landing probably enjoys eating grass, but he reaffirmed his aversion for grass racing with a dull performance last time out on the main course. He returns to his preferred Tapeta surface on Friday in a first-level allowance/optional claimer. Moon Landing runs for a $32,000 claiming tag for a successful turf-to-synthetic trainer.

NV Lawmaker Seeks to Override Trump Bill's Gambling Loss Limits

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) on Monday introduced a bill to counter the gambling deduction limits in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

The proposal, known as the Fair Accounting for Income Realized from Betting Earnings Taxation (FAIR BET Act), would restore the 100% allowance for gambling loss deductions on federal taxes. While that was standard in America, Trump’s new law lowered the amount to 90%.

The bill aligns with the fears of many professional gamblers and enthusiasts who feared that the change would make gambling unsustainable economically.

Tue, 07/08/2025 - 11:03

Out of necessity, McPhee resumes training for first time since 1996

By Mike Seely
Emerald Downs scenic 2025
Reed Palmer/Emerald Downs
In order to be considered for the Muckleshoot Derby, He's Not Talking needs a big effort in Saturday's fourth race.

Doug McPhee has experienced a lot in his 77 years, but the last two weeks brought an emotional roller-coaster ride that, as of Monday, he’d yet to fully process.

Tue, 07/08/2025 - 09:35

Wright hoping Tiz Grazen takes a step forward this season

By Mike Seely
Blaine Wright at PIM May 15 2019
Barbara D. Livingston
Blaine Wright has two horses in the second race at Emerald Downs on Friday night - Summers Choice and Tiz Grazen.

Blaine Wright was in Utah with his family earlier this week, fishing for kokanee salmon, when he took time to talk about the two horses he has Friday night at Emerald Downs in race 2, a $25,000 maiden-claiming race.

California AG Declares DFS Illegal

California Attorney General Rob Bonta wrote an opinion last week that said daily fantasy sports operators are in violation of the state’s gaming laws.

Bonta said DFS contests are illegal because they “involve betting on sporting events” in a state in which bans sports betting. Bonta released his opinion in response to a request from state Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-34).

Both “draft-style” and “pick’em-style” DFS contests were mentioned as illegal violations of California law.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:45

Donegal Momentum all good after stumble

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Donegal Momentum stumbled and was pulled up in the Kelso but may still start in the Fourstardave.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Aside from a scrape on his right hind pastern, all was well with Donegal Momentum following a bad-looking stumble during the running of Saturday’s Grade 3 Kelso Stakes, trainer Tom Morley said.

“Thank God, everyone in the race – horses and people – came back in one piece,” Morley said.

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:42

White Abarrio on track for Whitney start

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio put in a half-mile work Sunday at Saratoga in preparation for his next start in the Whitney.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio, who had a run of good races come to an end when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 7, remains on target for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 2, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.

White Abarrio won the Whitney in 2023.

On Sunday, White Abarrio worked a half-mile in 48.87 seconds in company with Neoequos, who is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.

“He went good,” Joseph said. “Second work, let him pick it up a little bit.”

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:41

Brown's Diana dominance will be challenged

By David Grening
Barbara D. Livingston
Chad Brown will send out Dynamic Pricing and Excellent Truth to take on She Feels Pretty in the Diana.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chad Brown’s stranglehold on the Grade 1 Diana Stakes figures to get severely tested on Saturday at Saratoga.

Brown has won the 1 1/8-mile Diana on turf eight of the last nine years and he’s won nine runnings overall. While he does send out two top contenders in the field of six, neither Dynamic Pricing or Excellent Truth are likely to go favored. That role figures to go to She Feels Pretty, a winner of four consecutive graded stakes, including the Grade 1 New York here on June 6.

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